Locals Should Benefit the most from the Upper Arun Project: Finance Minister Dr. Mahat

Sankhuvasabha. Finance Minister Dr. Prakasharan Mahat said that the cooperation and participation of the local people is the most important when any big project is going ahead.During the inspection of Upper Arun semi-reservoir hydropower project Bhotkhola, Minister Dr. Mahat said, ‘Local people should get the most benefit from this. After that, the project will move forward based on the belief that only the people of the district and then the country will get it.

It has been said that the Upper Arun project of 1 thousand 61 megawatts to be constructed in Sankhuwasabha has reached the implementation stage. Minister Dr. Mahat said, this is an important project for the people of Sankhuwasabha, now this project will move forward. Preparation is important for the implementation of every big project, which is not visible.

The project will not be affected due to the lack of roads. We will also build this road by collecting resources from wherever and however, Minister Dr. Mahat said, ‘We will solve the problem here soon. Locals here will get as many shares as they want.

Below the Upper Arun project, two other projects are progressing. Everyone’s time comes, the time for Bhotekhola and Sankhuvasabha has come. World Bank representative Ahana and other team have come here. This reflects the desire of the World Bank to invest in the project,” Minister Dr. Mahat said, “Koshi province has a great potential for hydropower transformation.” The implementation of this project will not only provide employment to the local people, but will help to raise the standard of living here. The government takes all responsibility for the economic and social welfare of the local people.

Minister inspected the project. A team including Mahat and Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet reached Bhotkhola. The construction of Upper Arun has been started as a proud project of the authority. Minister Dr. Mahat said, ‘The Ministry of Energy has been doing homework for a long time to advance this project. Now this project is reaching the implementation level. The World Bank has shown interest in investing in this project. The World Bank is gathering other donors, including the Asian Development Bank.

According to the senior assistant of the project, Grisham Bhandari, the team including Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising, Director of World Bank arrived at the project site Bhotkhola. The Nepal Electricity Authority has been entrusted with the construction of the Upper Arun project.

The project has also distributed compensation to the affected areas. Out of 788 plots in the project affected area, 699 plots have been cut. 2,500 ropani land has been acquired in Bhotkhola for the project.

The estimated cost of the hydropower project is more than two billion 26 million rupees. The construction of the hydroelectric project will start from the middle of 2024. Hydropower construction is planned to be completed within 6 years. 30 percent of the project’s capital and 70 percent of the loan will be raised from domestic and foreign banks and financial institutions.

Minister Dr. Mahat said, ‘In order to implement this project, I have discussed the issues of low interest rates and subsidies at the World Bank meeting. We have emphasized the perspective of climate change. And they seemed positive. Now this project has reached the level of how to collecting resources under that conditions. Not only Votkhola, but all Sankhuwasabha residents have shown interest in the implementation of this project.